Glossary
Technical terms in the plastics industry, explained in a simple way. Use the search function in your browser (Ctrl+F) to quickly find a term.
Materials and Polymers
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| ABS | Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. Impact-resistant thermoplastic used in vehicles, electronics, and consumer products. |
| Acetal / POM | Polyoxymethylene. Hard, rigid technical plastic with low friction. Used in gears, bearings, and precision parts. |
| Fluoroplast | Collective term for fluorine-containing polymers such as PTFE, PVDF, FEP, and PFA. Known for extreme chemical resistance. |
| HDPE / PE-HD | Polyethylene with high density. Chemically resistant, food-approved, easy to process. |
| PA (Nylon) | Polyamide. Wear-resistant technical plastic with good mechanical strength. Available as PA6, PA66, PA12, etc. |
| PA6G (cast) | Cast polyamide 6. Produced through anionic polymerization in molds. Available in larger dimensions than extruded PA. |
| PC | Polycarbonate. Transparent, impact-resistant plastic. Used in protective glasses, lighting, and medical technology. |
| PE-UHMW | Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene. Extremely wear-resistant PE for conveyor belts, glide rails, and wear parts. |
| PEEK | Polyetheretherketone. High-performance technical plastic for extreme heat, chemicals, and mechanical stress. |
| PET | Polyethylene terephthalate. Rigid, transparent plastic with good chemical resistance. Used in food packaging and technical parts. |
| PMMA (Acrylic) | Polymethyl methacrylate. Transparent plastic with high light transmittance. Alternative to glass. |
| POM-C | Copolymer POM. Slightly better chemical resistance than POM-H, easier to process. |
| POM-H | Homopolymer POM. Higher mechanical strength and stiffness than POM-C. |
| PP | Polypropylene. Lightweight, chemically resistant thermoplastic. Common in tanks, ventilation, and food applications. |
| PS | Polystyrene. Rigid, transparent plastic. Used in packaging and signage. |
| PTFE | Polytetrafluoroethylene. Universal chemical resistance, extremely low friction, temperature-resistant up to 260°C. |
| PVC | Polyvinyl chloride. Chemically resistant, self-extinguishing. Available as rigid (PVC-U) and flexible (PVC-P). |
| PVDF | Polyvinylidene fluoride. Chemically resistant fluoroplastic with good mechanical strength. Common in chemical process industry. |
| Thermoplastic | Plastic that can be melted and reformed multiple times. All materials in PlastShop's range are thermoplastics. |
| Duroplast | Plastic that cannot be melted after curing (e.g. epoxy, polyester). Not included in PlastShop's range. |
Properties and Test Methods
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Density | Material's mass per unit volume (g/cm³). Determines the weight of a plastic part. |
| Tensile Strength | Maximum stress the material can withstand during tensile loading before breaking (MPa). |
| E-Modulus | Elasticity modulus. Measure of the material's stiffness (MPa). Higher value = stiffer material. |
| Shore D | Hardness scale for plastics. Higher value = harder material. Typically 50-85 for technical plastics. |
| Charpy | Impact test where a pendulum strikes a test specimen. Measured in kJ/m². |
| UL 94 | Flammability classification standard for plastics. Classes: HB (self-extinguishing horizontal), V-2, V-1, V-0 (best). |
| LOI | Limiting Oxygen Index. Minimum oxygen content to sustain combustion. Higher than 21% = self-extinguishing in air. |
| HDT | Heat Deflection Temperature. Temperature at which the material begins to deform under load. |
| Water Absorption | How much water the material absorbs (%). Important for dimensional stability. PA absorbs a lot, POM very little. |
| Friction Coefficient | Measure of friction between two surfaces. Low friction coefficient = good sliding properties (e.g. PTFE, POM). |
| ESD | Electrostatic Discharge. Materials with ESD properties dissipate static electricity. Important in electronic production. |
Processing and Manufacturing
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Extrusion | Manufacturing method where molten plastic is pressed through a die (nozzle) to produce rods, sheets, or tubes. |
| Casting | Manufacturing method where liquid monomer is polymerized directly in a mold. Produces larger dimensions. |
| CNC Machining | Computer-aided machining (milling, turning, drilling) of plastic parts from semi-finished products. |
| Kerf | Saw cut width. Includes saw blade thickness plus material waste. Important for cut optimization. |
| Tolerance | Permitted deviation from nominal dimension. Often specified according to DIN standards for semi-finished products. |
| Chip Formation | How the material behaves during machining. Short chips (POM) are easier to handle than long chips (PE). |
| Annealing | Heat treatment to reduce internal stresses in plastic parts after machining. |
Certifications and Standards
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| FDA | Food and Drug Administration. American food approval for materials in contact with food. |
| EU 10/2011 | EU regulation for plastic materials intended for contact with food. European equivalent to FDA. |
| ISO 9001 | International standard for quality management systems. |
| ISO 14001 | International standard for environmental management systems. |
| REACH | EU regulation for registration, evaluation, and authorization of chemicals. |
| RoHS | Restriction of Hazardous Substances. EU directive limiting hazardous substances in electronics. |
| TDS | Technical Data Sheet. Technical data sheet with the material's mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties. |
| SDS / MSDS | Safety Data Sheet. Safety data sheet with information on handling, storage, and risks. |
Trade and Logistics
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| B2B | Business-to-Business. Sales between companies. PlastShop is a B2B platform. |
| CTS | Cut-to-Size. Cutting of materials to the customer's specific dimensions. |
| Semi-Finished Products | Plastic materials in standard forms (sheets, rods, tubes, blocks) that are further processed by the customer. |
| MOQ | Minimum Order Quantity. Minimum order quantity. PlastShop has no formal MOQ. |
| PCR | Post-Consumer Recycled. Recycled material from consumer products. |
| PIR | Post-Industrial Recycled. Recycled material from industrial production. |
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